Wednesday, March 30, 2022
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Volume 53, No. 23
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Russell Township
Trustees Agree on Cyber Security Provider By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
After more than three months of cyber security uncertainty, Russell Township Trustees voted March 16 in favor of an agreement with the Geauga County Automated Data Processing Board to ensure protection against hackers and ransom-wear attacks. Trustees haggled for half an hour over the ADP’s offer to provide security and technical support for the township’s administrative, zoning and roads departments’ systems. Trustee Matt Rambo said he talked to Frank Antenucci, chief deputy administrator of the ADP board, and was told materials and installation of the system will cost the township about $23,000 to $24,000 initially and annual upkeep will be about $3,000 to $4,000. Township Administrator Melissa
Palmer said after the meeting installation will cost about $24,300 and the recurring support expense, about $3,600. “That’s very reasonable for what they’d do for us. ADP is fine with me,” said Trustee Jim Mueller. “I just don’t see the township sailing along without protection.” The township trustees’ administration, zoning and roads departments, which have not had sufficient cyber security for several months, experienced a computer virus in September 2021, said Fiscal Officer Karen Walder. “I asked for action Sept. 30. The ADP sent a letter,” but the board of trustees did not respond to the breach and the ADP board took action to protect its own system, she said. “(The county) was blocking the Russell Township domain from emailing the county,” Walder said. “The board has not taken any corrective action.”
Sparent Places at State Tourney
In October, Walder secured a contract to provide IT protection for the administrative, police and fire departments, she said in a phone interview. The ADP board required a unanimous vote to enter into an agreement because having a dissenting trustee will cost the department money the not-for-profit organization doesn’t want to spend, said Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder, who serves as the ADP chief administrator. “We don’t want to engage with a government not entirely on board. It costs us more. We’d have to add more resources convincing them they made the right decision,” he said. The ADP board assisted the township when the original breach occurred, but had to sever the ability of Russell’s roads, zoning and administration departments to connect with the county systems since they were not fully protected, the auditor said. “We isolated them … until we have evidence of complete remediation,” he said, adding his department did not want to expose the county to the possibility of viruses or hacking. Trustee Kristina Port said
some months ago, she wanted to get some alternative quotes for the system. Only one other quote has been received and it was considerably higher than the ADP offer and was retracted in December, so on March 16, the township fiscal officer urged trustees to act. “Doing nothing I don’t believe is a responsible action,” she said. “If you are waiting for a ransom-wear attack, you are doing it just right.” Rambo agreed. “By not taking action, we are making it harder for (township employees) to do their job,” he said. For instance, the road supervisor cannot email the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, Rambo said. “They can talk by phone or FAX,” Port said. Rambo also asked if the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority might deny the township coverage if the township doesn’t have sufficient cyber security. When Mueller called for a vote to approve an agreement with the ADP board up to $30,000 for the cyber security system, he and Rambo voted yes. Port hesitated. “You are in the catbird seat,” Mueller said. Shaking her head, Port voted yes.
Museum Announces Its New Season
SUBMITTED
Jack Sparent, right, at 138 pounds, placed 7th at the OHSAA state wrestling tournament March 13. It was the second straight year the West Geauga senior placed. Sparent went 41-5 this season, the most wins, pins and takedowns on the team. “He did really well,” said head coach Carmen Russo, pictured left. “He would have had more wins in his year career, but with the pandemic, that hindered a lot of athletes.”
The Cleveland & Eastern Interurban Historical Society and Museum (C&E) located in the basement of the Old Town Hall at the Chesterland Historical Village will be open the first Sunday of every month from 2-4 p.m. The season runs April 3 through Oct. 2. Visitors to the museum can watch DVDs about the C&E, enjoy rare photographs of the line and view books, models, maps and rare artifacts of the railroad. They can tour the original Chesterland
interurban station, see an original freight cart rebuilt by Society members and view a model C&E interurban car running on a detailed display. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and explain the history of the Geauga County railroad. The museum is free and open to the public. Some of the other buildings at the historical village, which is located at the corner of Mayfield and Caves roads, will be open during museum hours.
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